Shock-absorber.



SHOCK ABSORBER.

y APPLlcATIoN FILED MAY 31. 1916.

CoNcAm.

Patented Mzu. (3, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 A Y. "lllll wlTNEssEs; @L 2% I Ik GIROLAMO CONCATO, 0FBROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

sHocK-vansomsiia.y

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'lVI-ar. 6, 1917.

Application led May 31, 1916. Serial No. 100,760.

To all whom it may concer/n.'

Be it kno-Wn that I, GIROLAMO CoNCATo, a subject of the King of Italy,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Shock-Absorbers; and Ido hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear and exact descriptionof thein- Avcntion, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use. the same, referencebeing had to theaccompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon,which form a partofthis specification.

The present invention has reference, generally, to improvements inshock-absorbers for vehicles, and the .invention relates, moreparticularly, to a novel and simple construction of shock-absorber forattachment to the axles of a vehicle, the same being, further more, afurther improvement in the con-V struction of shock-absorbers of thegeneral type shown and claimed 4in -my application for Letters-Patent ofthev United States, tiled August 3rd,"1915, Serial No. '43,372/15.

The present invention' has for its principal object to provide a moltecompact and a more eiiicient construction of shock-absorber of the type'above mentioned; and said invention has for a further object toprovide, in connection with 'such I a shock-absorber, means for checkingthe violent reactions of i theordinary vehicle springs with which saidshock-absorber coperates.

Other objects of the present invention, not at this time moreparticularly enumerated, will be clearly understood fromthe followingdetailed description of the present invention.`

The invention consists, primarily, therefore in the novel constructionof shock-absorber hereinafter more fully set forth; and, furthermore,this invention consists in the. various arrangements and combinations ofthe several devices and parts, as Well as in the details of theconstruction of the same, all of which will be more fully described indetail in the following specification, and then finally embodied intheclaims which are appended to and which form an essential part ofsaidfspecification. V

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of my novel construction ofshock-absorber as associated operatively withothe axle and chassissupporting springs of a vehicle, such as a motor-car.

Fig. 2v is a front elevation of my novel construction of shock-absorber.Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the same, taken on line 3 3 insaid Fig. 2 Fig. 4 is avertical transverse section of the same, taken online 4-4 in said Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the same,

-taken on line 5 5 in saidFig. 1, looking downward;,F-ig. 6 is anotherhorizontal section of the same, taken on line 6 6 in' said Fig. 1,looking downward; Fig. 7 `is still another horizontal section of theSame, taken on line 7 7 in said Fig. 1, looking downward; and Fig. 8 isalsoa horizontal section of the same, taken on line 8 8 in said Fig. 1,also looking downward.

Similar characters of reference are einployed in all of the abovedescribed views to indicate corresponding parts. v i l Referring now tothe said drawings, the reference character 1 indicates an axle of aIvehicle, and 2 indicates the usual steel leafsprings upon which thebody or chassis of the vehicle is supported..

My novel construction of the shock-absorber vcomprises a pair of sideplates 3, which are laid so as to extend longitudinally against' thesides of the axle 1. The reference character 4 indicates hanger-irons,which are arranged in pairs spaced longitudinally from each other so asto extend over the ends of-said side-plates 3, and thus depend fromopposite sides of said axle 1. Eachhanger-iron 4 is provided at itsupper end with a llaterally 'extending hanger-lug 5 which extends overthe upper surface of said axle 1 and in engagement therewith, so thatsaid'hanger-irons may be positively suspended from and supported by theaxle il. Each hanger-iron 4 is further provided,

ina location spaced beneath said hangerlugv 5, with a 'laterallyextending holdinglug 6 which extends beneath the under surface of saidaxle 1 and in engagement therewith, so that said hanger-irons may bepositively held against upward movement relative to said axle 1. Eachhanger-iron 4- is further provided. at its lower extremity with inwardlyand laterally projecting carryinglugs 7 so arranged that a base vorbottomplate -8 may be supported thereon, and secured thereto by means of'screws 9, or any other suitableA fastening .means, thus suspending fromand beneath the axle 1, in stationary and horizontal position, said baseor bottom-plate 8. The ends of said sideplate 3 extend between the saidrespective hanger-lug 5 and holding-lug 6 of each hanger-iron 4, andrest against the inner side of the latter, being a'ixed thereto by meansof fastening screws l0, or any other suitable fastening means, and thussaid sideplates 3 serve to maintain said hanger-irons spacedlongitudinally from each other in proper positions.

Each pair of laterally opposite hangerirons 4 are rigidlybound together,in the above described relation to said axle 1, by means of bolts andnuts 11, which pass through said hanger-lugs 5, and by means of similarbolts and nuts 12, which pass through said holding-lugs 6.

Formed in connection with longitudinally opposite side-faces of saidhanger-irons 4 are guide-portions 13 which provide slideways forpurposes subsequently to be disclosed.

Arranged to slide between longitudinally opposite guide-portions 13- oneach side of said axle 1 are vertically movable slideplates 14. Theinner faces 15 of said slideplates 14 slide upon or against the outerfaces of said side-plates 3,. Said slide-plates 14 extend downwardlybelow the axle 1, and their lower ends are joined together by means of afoot-plate 16 which extends hori- '/,ontally therebetween and which ispreferably formed integrally with said slide-plates, although if desiredit may form a separate part otherwise secured vin connection with saidslide-plates.

Extending outwardly from the exterior face 17 of each of saidslide-plates 14, and preferably forming an integral part thereof, is abuffer-lug 18. Each buffer-lug is provided with a downwardly dependingseating-stud 19 projecting from the under side thereof, and adapted toreceive and thus maintain seated against said buer-lug the upper end ofa buffer or shock-absorber spring 20. Said buffer or shock-absorbersprings 20 are preferably of the spiral compression type, and theirlower ends are supported or based upon said base or bottom plate 8,which is also provided adjacent to its ends, and in alinement beneathsaid seating-studs 19, with upwardly extending seating-studs 21. whichengage said lower ends of said springs 20 and thus hold the same inproperly seated relation upon said base or bottom-plate 8.

The reference 'character 22 indicates a l cradle-member adapted to bepivotally connected to said slide-plates 14, so as to be capable of aslight oscillation or swing in a direction parallel to the axis of theaxle 1. Each slide-plate 14 is provided, adjacent to its upper end, withan outwardly projecting journal-stud 23, the outer end of which isLaisser provided with screw-threads 24. Said cradle-member 22 isprovided with downwardly extending side-arms 25 having suitably disposedopenings 26 in which said journal-studs 23 are received. A nut 27 screwsupon the threads 24 of each journalstud 23. The ordinary or steelleaf-springs 2 of the vehicle are supported upon said cradle-member 22,and are suitably secured thereto by the usual anchor-yoke devices 28 andtheir tie-members 29 and nuts 30.

As will be understood from an inspection of the drawings there is norigid connection between the axle 1 and the vehicle springs 2 supportingthe body or chassis of the vehicle, and the weight of the vehicle iscarried on the yieldable buffer or shock-absorber springs 20,consequently the axle 1 has what 1 term a floating relation to thelchassis or body of the vehicle. It therefore follows that asobstructions are met with by the wheels of the vehicle, or'anyunevenness of road surface, the consequent shock, jerk or pound of theaxle 1 is not transmitted immediately and directly through the more orless still' vehicle springs 2 to the chassis or body, but the rise orvertical movement of the axle 1 lifts the hangerirons 4 and base orbottom-plate 8 carrying the eects of the shock or sudden upward movementto the bud'er or shock-absorber-springs 20 which compress or yield tosaid sudden shock or movement and thus absorb the violence of the sameand greatly diminish its force before transmission through theslide-plates 14 to the cradlemember 22, springs 2 and thence to thechassis or body of the vehicle. 1t will thus be apparent that not onlyare heavy shocks absorbed and diminished by my novel shockabsorberbefore their effect can be transmitted to the chassis or vehicle body,but by virtue of the Hoating relation of the axle to the chassis orvehicle body, all the minor vibrations usually consequent upon tractionare practically eliminated, thus rendering the vehicle comfortable andstable as to its riding qualities.

The reference character 31 indicates a reaction check-plate, from theunder side of which extends downwardly a stem `or shank 32. Saidfoot-plate 16 is provided with a centrally disposed opening or hole 33through lwhich said stem or shank 32 extends, and in like manner saidbase or botl tom-plate 8 is also provided with a similar centrallydisposed opening or hole 34 through which the extremity of said stem orshank 32 extends so as to project beneath said base or bottom-plate 8.The extremity of said stem or shank 32 is provided with screw threads 35upon which screws an adjusting nut 36. A recoil spring 37 is arrangedand seated between said foot-plate 16 and said check-plate 31, and thetension j of said recoil spring 37 is easily adjustedv by screwin up thenut 36 against the bottom of said ase or bottom-plate 8 to pull down thestem or shank 32 and the check-plate 31 to compress the spring 37 to thedegree desired. It will of course be understood that the devices justdescribed serve to check any violent reaction of the ordinary vehiclesprings 2, since the force of such reactions -are transmitted throughthe cradle-member 22 and slide-plates 14: to thefoot-plate 16 with thetendency to jerk upward the latter parts. This reaction or upward jerkis thereupon transmitted to the recoil spring 37 and absorbed andgreatly diminished or eased thereby, 'since the' spring is backedagainst the relatively stationary check-plate 31 which is anchored tothe base or bottomplate 8 which in turn is rigidly related to the axle 1by means of the hanger-irons 4, as above described, and consequently thepound of such violent reaction of the vehicle springs 2 is absorbed bythe recoil spring 37 before it can betransmitted to said axle 1, kaswill be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanyingdrawings.l This arrangement adds. greatly to vthe efficiency of theabsorber and'constitutes a novel and. importantv improvement over theconstruction of my earlier shockabsorber described in my earlierapplication above identified. l

Another point of novelty and improvement over my earlier construction ofshockabsorber consists in arranging the main shock-absorbing springs 20upon each side of the axle-1thus not only providing for a more compactand less clumsy device as a whole, but also providing a better balancebetween the moving and stationary parts of the absorber and a betterdistribution and absorption of theI shocks or jars.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the various devices andparts of my present novel construction of shock-absorber, as well as inthe combinations and arrangements of said devices Y and parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of my present invention. I therefore do notlimit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of thevarious devices and parts, nor do I conne myself to the exact details ofthe construction of lsaid parts, as described in the foregoingspecification, nor as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim 1. A shock-absorber comprising a plurality of hanger-ironsadapted to be rigidly bonnected with an axle so as to depend therefrom,a horizontal base-plate supported by the lowerends of said hanger-irons,guide portions providing slideways in connection with said hanger-irons,a pair of slide-plates mounted between the Vguide-portions oflongitudinally opposite hanger-irons so as to be connected withy an axleso as to depend therefrom, ahorizontal base-plate supported by the lowerends of said hanger-irons, guide-portions providing slideways inconnection with said hanger-irons, a pair of tions of longitudinallyopposite hangerirons so as to be vertically movable upon opposite sidesof said axle, a horizontal foot-plate rigidly interconnecting the lowerends of said slide-plates, horizontal bufferslide-plates mounted betweenthe guide-porv lugs extending outwardly from each slideplate, resilientbuffer-members mounted between said bui'er-lugs and said base-plate,means for supporting the body of a vehicle in connection with the upperends of said slide-plates, and a recoil buffer-means anchored to saidbase-plate and adapted to. engage said foot-plate of the slide-plates tocheck sudden upward movements or recoils thereof.

3. A shock-absorber comprising a plural'- ity of hanger-irons adapted tobe rigidly connected `with an axle so as to depend therefrom, ahorizontal base-plate supported by the lower ends of said hanger-irons,guideportions providing slideways in connection with said hanger-irons,a pair of slide-plates mounted between the guide-portions oflo'ngitudinally opposite hanger-irons so as to be vertically movableupon opposite sides of said axle, a horizontal foot-plate rigidly in- Yterconnecting the lowerends of said slideplates, horizontal buffer-lugsextending outwardly from each slide-plate, resilient buer-membersmounted between said buer-lugs and said. base-plate, means forsupporting the body of a vehicle in connection with the upper endscofsaid slide-plates,

a check-plate located above said horizontal foot-plate, a stem connectedwith said checkplate and extending downwardly through said foot-plateand said base-plate, an adj usting nut coperating with the end of saidstem beneath said base-plate, and a resilient recoil spring mountedbetween said checkplate and said foot-plate .for the purposes described.

.j 4. A shock-absorber comprisingc a series of hanger-irons adapted tobe rigi ly connected with an axle so as to depend therefrom, ahorizontal base-plate supported by the lower ends of said hanger-irons,guide-portions providing slideways in connection with said hanger-irons,a pair of slide-plates mounted between the guide-portions oflongitudinally opposite hanger-irons so as to be vertically movable uponopposite sides of said axle, a horizontal foot-plate rigidly inter-`connecting the lower ends of said slideplates, horizontal buffer-lugsextending outwardly from each slide-plate, absorber springs mountedbetweenl each buer-lug and said base-plate, means for retaining saidabsorber springs in position, and a cradlemember having side-armspivotally connected with the upper ends of said slide-plates above saidbuffer-lugs, said cradle-member being adapted to be gonnecte'd with andsupport the ordinary springs of a vehicle body.

5. A. shock labsorber comprising a series of hanger-irons adapted to berigidly connected with an axleso as to depend there- "from, a horizontalbase-plate supported by the lower ends of said hanger-irons,guideportions providing slideways in connection with said hanger-irons,a pair of slide-plates mounted between the guide-portions oflongitudinally opposite hanger-irons so as to be vertically movable uponopposite sides of said axle, a horizontal foot-plate rigidlyinterconnecting the lower ends of said slideplates, horizontalbuii'er-lugs extending outwardly from each slide-plate, absorber'springs mounted between each buer-lug and said base-plate, means forretainlng said absorber springs in position, a cradle-member havingside-arms pivotally connected with the upper ends of said slide-platesabove said buer-lugs, said cradle-member being adapted to be connectedwith and to support the ordinary springs of a vehicle miam body, and arecoil buHler-means anchored to l said base-plate and adapted to engagesaid foot-plate of the slide-plates to check sudden upward movements orrecoils thereof.

6. A shock-absorber comprisin a series of hanger-irons adapted to berigi ly connected with an axle so as to depend therefrom, a

horizontal foot-plate rigidly interconnecting the lower ends of saidslide-plates, horizontal buffer-lugs extending outwardly from eachslide-plate, absorber springs mounted between each buffer-lug and saidbase-plate, means for retaining said absorber springs in position, acradle-member having side-arms pivotally connected with the u per endsof said slide-plates above said bu er-lugs, said cradle-'member beingadapted to be connected with and to support the ordinary springs of avehicle body, a checleplate located above said horizontal foot-plate, astem connected with said check-plate and extending down- Wardly throughsaid foot-plate and said base-plate, an adjusting nut cooperating withthe end of said stem beneath said baseplate, and a resilient recoilspring mounted between said check-plate and said foot-plate for thepurposes described.

In testimony that l claim the invention set forth above l' have hereuntoset my hand this 25 day of May, 1916.

GRULAMO CNCATO.

